The BSA Junior Parabike was inspired by the BSA Airborne Bike used during WW2, and the Pegasus featured here was a subsequent derivative, its frame using the same duplex tubing.
Not everyone’s father would have used a BSA Airborne Bicycle. But no doubt most boys would have wished their fathers had jumped out of planes with paratrooper bikes to help defeat the enemy. Selling (non-folding) children’s versions was sound marketing strategy from BSA – as you can see from the Parabike advert above, boys and girls could gaily ride around on their parabikes while army paratroopers were parachuting down behind them with the real thing.
FATHER & CHILD PARABIKES
1944 BSA Airborne (2nd Pattern) Folding Paratrooper Bicycle
26″ Wheels
Frame No R57631
‘Pegasus’ Junior Parabike
16″ Frame
18″ Wheels
This is a set of ‘Father & Child’ parabikes, ideal for displaying at summer shows and military events, or as a unique museum exhibit. The Pegasus parabike has been painted green, and has an original fifties fairground pop-gun mounted on it. It’s also fitted with reproduction BSA Airborne handlebar grips.
The BSA Airborne is in original unrestored condition. There’s no paint on it. The previous owner found it after longterm barn storage, greased it up as required, and replaced the cotter pins, brake cables and rubbers. All the essential hard-to-find parts are present, i.e. brakes, levers, chainwheel with retractable pedals, folding handlebar, hubs, wheels. It has original BSA military handlebar grips (compare with the repro grips on the Junior Pegasus). The rear sprocket is stamped with the BSA logo, and the bike’s frame number is visible.
As far as I can see, the only unoriginal items on the BSA Airborne are the saddle and replacement cables and brake rubbers. There is a small dent in the Airborne frame, on the right side above the chainwheel. One of the grips on the Pegasus is cracked.
It is definitely a false economy to purchase a BSA Airborne with original parts missing. Replacing a saddle is easy (during WW2, Brooks saddles were usually fitted, and sometimes BSA). But it’s hard to find the other parts, and they are very expensive if you do locate them.
The pedals on this BSA Airborne retract freely, and it also folds and unfolds easily. The BSA rides well, so you can use and display it as it is or repaint it, depending on whether you like your bikes to look new or used.
BSA AIRBORNE FOLDED
PEGASUS JUNIOR PARABIKE
